End-gate construction



Feb. 20, 1923. I 1,446,083

|. F. AVERY END GATE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 29, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 1 J 56 Inc/6211 02:

Feb. 20, 1923.

I. F. AVERY END GATE CONSTRUCTION Fild May 29, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. :20, 1923.

. IRVING F. AVERY, OF CHICAGO, IIiLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 JACOB PRESS SONS, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

END-GATE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 29, 1920. Serial No. 385,156.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I IRVING F. AVERY, a citizen of the United tates, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook and .State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End-Gate Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to endgate construction for the bodies of wagons, trucks and the like, and more particularly to pivoted endgates.

Among the-objects of my invention are to provide an endgate which may be swung upon either of two axes, located respectively adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof; to provide readily releasable means for both the upper and lower edges of the endgate so that either may be selectively released with a minimum of effort; to improve upon the fastening construction for the upper edge of the endgate; to improve upon the fastening construction for the lower edge of the endgate; to provide means whereby the lower edge of the endgate may be released from a position at a distance therefrom, as from the opposite end of the wagon body; to provide for the ready attachment of an endgate and its supports to the body of a wagon or truck and detachment of sametherefrom; to improve upon the construction of the endgate; to provide in a combination of the character described means for limiting the swinging motion of the endgate; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the-combination, construction, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown therein a'preferred embodiment I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and not as limiting my invention.

In the accompanying. drawings illustrating my invention, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an automobile truck, showing my new endgate construction applied to the body thereof; Fig. 2 is a side view ofa body of a wagon or truck, showing the endgate construction applied and the means for releasing same, from the opposite end of the body; Fig. 3 is a detailed end elevation of the endgate shown in closed relation to the wagon or truck body; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the endgate swung down on its lower and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a lower end portion of the body.

Referring more in detail to the drawings B denotes a wagon or truck body, F an end frame for said body and E an endgate mounted upon the frame F. Frame F is. formed from angle iron'and comprises the uprights 1 and lower crossmember 2, these parts being suitably secured together at their overlapping ends. Secured adjacent the upper ends of the uprights 1 by bolts 1 are the brackets 3 carrying the extensions 4. At the lower ends of these uprights are brackets 5 provided with extensions 6 similar to the extensions 4, said brackets being secured in place by means of bolts 1 as stated in connection with brackets 3. It should be noted that the inner faces ofthe lugs 4 and 6 make a slight angle with each other in order to assist in getting the lugs 10 and 12 to seat properly between these extensions. Brackets 3 and 5 are preferably cast steel or drop forgings, the former having integrally united therewith the eyes 3 and the latter having as a part thereof the extensions 5 perforated for the reception of the rod 14. Angle iron cross member 2 has it vertical portion 2* at the inner edge of the portion 2 which is parallel to and secured to the body portion, thus leaving a rearwardly and downwardly openin space making it possible to easily install or remove rod 14 and its associated parts. Endgate E has a frame 8 provided at its upper cornerswithprojections 9, carrying lugs 10. These lugs are adapted to be inserted between the extensions 4 and to be fastened in place therein by means of pins 11 passed downwardly through perforations in said extensions 4. It will be seen from the above that when the lower edge of the endgate is released the same may be swung outwardly about the lugs 10'serving as trunnions, which rotate between the extensions 4, as shown best in Fig. 5.

The lower portion of the endgate E is pro- ,vided with lugs, extensions, or the like, 12,

shaft 14:, pivotally mounted in the perforations in the extensions 5? of the brackets 5. lit is, of course, obvious that other means of pivotally mounting shaft 14 upon the frame member F may be selected if desired, but I consider as preferable the construction shown and described herein. Secured to the shaft 14 is crank arm 15, to which is Pivotally connected one end of a rod 16, which extends a distance from the endgate and is preferably connected to a means 17, herein shown as a bell crank lever, by means of which the shaft 16 may be reciprocated. Connecting crank arm or lever 15 with rod or shaft 16 is a bolt 15 preferably provided. with a hole for a cotter pin by means of which the bolt may be held in place.

It is preferable to have the latches 13 automatically held in looking position, and I have, therefore, shown a bracket 18 secured to the body of the wagon or truck, a collar 19 secured to rod 16, and a spring 20 surrounding rod 16 and abutting at its ends against the bracket 18 and the collar 19. It will, therefore, be seen as lever 17 is raised it will reciprocate shaft 16, placing a tension upon spring 20, so that when the handle is released the spring 20 wifi force the rod to move in the opposite direction, thereby returning latches 13 to their normal position. In this position latches 13 hook around the lugs 12, and prevent the lower edge of the .endgate from swinging outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. If it is desired to permit the lower edge of the. endgate to swing outwardly it is only necessary to lift up on handle 17, thereby releasing lugs 12 from latches 13, as shown best in Fig. 5. If it is desired to permit the endgate to swing downwardly, this can be accomplished by pulling pins 11 from the perforations in extensions 4, thereby permitting the endgate to swing on its lower trunnions 12, as shown in Fig. 4:. The chain 21, provided at its ends with hooks, may or may not be used, as desired. lt is understood that if this chain is not used, the endgate will swing downwardly and hang vertical, while, if the chain is used its ends will be hooked in the eyes 3 and 3 and the endgate will, in effect, be an extension of the body bottom, as is obvious from Fig. 4.

It is, of course, obvious that this endgate construction may be used at either end of the wagon or truck body, and that the specification and claims should, therefore, be read with this in mind, the words forwardly and rearwardly being interchanged, if the construction is applied to the forward end of the, body. v

It will be seen from the above description that if it is-desired to remove the endgate construction from the body, all that is necessary is to reverse the assembling operations, removing the endgate from extensions 4 and 6 and taking out bolts 15 and 1, therereeaose by releasing brackets 3 and 5 for removal from frame F, or, if desired, lugs 10 and 12 may remain secured between extensions 4 and 6 and the endgate construction be removed as a unit by removing the bolts 15 and 1. From this description the ease and simplicity of assembly and disassembly will be apparent.

It is believed that the construction and op eration of my new cndgate and its associated parts will be clear from the above description. It is, of course, understood that the @ecific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of my invention, as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.

Having now described my invention,

I claim:

1. ln an endgate supporting bracket for a truck or wagon body, a body portion having extending laterally therefrom a pair of projections adapted to form a bear ing" for an endgate trunnion, and a perforated projection extending longitudinally from said body portion and adapted to serve as a supporting means for a rotatable shaft.

2. lin a structure of the character described, a truck or wagon body, having an end frame, endgate supporting brackets detachably secured to said frame, endgate trunnion supporting members extending laterally from said brackets, a longitudinal extension on said bracket members perforated for the reception of a rotatable shaft, a shaft mounted in said perforations and having se cured thereto a hooked latch member and a crank arm, and means secured to said crank arm for rotating said shaft in its bearings and causing the latch member to swing about the shaft.

3. In a structure of the character described, a truck or wagon body having an end frame comprising uprights and a bottom portion, said frame being formed from angle iron and the bottom portion having the vertically arranged part at theinward edge of the horizontally arranged part, brackets fastened to the uprights and having bearings aligned with the space between said parts and means cooperative with the bearings for; controlling the operation of the end gate of the body.

4.. In a structure of the character described, a truck or wagon body having an end frame constructed from' angle iron pieces, one side of an angle iron piece being parallel with the bed of the said body and the other side being substantially perpendicular thereto and removed from the end thereof, thereby forming below the said body adjacent the end thereof a rearwardly and downwardly opening space, endgate supporting brackets detachably secured to said frame and carrying extensions provided with perforations .alining with the said space, a rod extending through said space and journalled in said perforated extensions,

said rod carrying a latch member and having a crank arm whereby it may be rotated in its journals.

5. In a structure of the character described, a truck or Wagon body having an end frame constructed from angle iron pieces, one side of an angle iron piece being 1 parallel with the bed of the said body and the other side being Substantially perpen-' ing a crank arm whereby it may be rotated in its journals.

6. In a structure of the character described, a truck or wagon body having an end frame constructed from horizontal and upright angle irons, one side of the horizontal angle iron being parallel with the bed of the saidbody and the other side being substantially perpendicular thereto and removed from the end thereof, thereby form ing below the said body adjacent theend thereof a rearwardly and downwardly opening space, the upright angle arm forming at the sides of the body rearwardly and laterally opening spaces endgate supporting brackets detachably secured to the sides of Said upright angle irons and carrying extensions provided with perforations alming with the said space below the body, a rod extending through said space and j ournalled in said perforated extensions, said rod carrying a latch member and having a crank arm whereby it may be rotated in its journals, said rod and brackets being readily attachable and detaohableas a unit by reason of the location of the flange of the angle iron away from the end of the body.

7. An endgate supporting structure comprising an angle iron frame, readily attach able and detachable brackets secured to the corners of said frame and a rod passing thru and pivotally mounted in the lower pair of brackets beneath the bottom of the frame and carrying adjacent its ends rearwardly extending latch members, said angle iron frame having its laterally and downwardly extending flanges located away from the end of the body to which attached so that said lower brackets, latch members and rod can readily .be applied and removed from the frame and said flanges do not have to be cut away to provide space for the latch members.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification in the presence of t yo witnesses.

IRVING F. AVERY.

Witnesses:

Rosn I. KAPLAN, WM. A. PRESS. 

